http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,195424,00.html?
Q: IS IT A GOOD TIME TO HOLD GENERAL ELECTION NOW?
'Leave election to another time'
The New Paper poll of 200 S'poreans aged 21 and above
By Lediati Tan
March 12, 2009
TNP INFOGRAPHICS: JONATHAN ROBERTS
FOCUS on the economy.
Now is not the time for politics.
These are the views of an overwhelming number of Singaporeans polled by The New Paper.
With all the talk of the possibility of snap elections, the street poll of the 200, all aged 21 and above, showed that nearly three-quarters were not in favour of a General Election (GE) this year.
The reason: They want all heads focused on getting Singapore out of the downturn.
The sentiments reflect what most observers and politicians have said in the last few weeks: That a snap poll would distract the Government from focusing on the economy.
The next GE is due in February 2012.
But talk of an upcoming election arose when the Elections Department moved to update electoral registers and alter the boundaries of polling districts.
The Elections Department was quick to add that both moves were routine exercises.
But that did not stop speculation that polls could be round the corner.
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew also said last week that he saw 'no purpose' in holding polls before 2011, though he stressed it was up to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to decide when an election will be held.
In The New Paper poll, Singaporeans appeared to agree.
Undergraduate Lee Ting Jun, 24, said: 'The economy is very unstable now. A GE could possibly destabilise it further.'
The second most common reason given by those not favouring a GE now is that it would be a waste of money to hold elections during such times.
The money should be used on more urgent needs such as measures to save jobs.
Others thought the Government is currently doing a fine job - and holding polls now might jeopardise that.
Marketing executive Peggy Hong, 48, said: 'Citizens face pressing problems of job security, rising cost of living and bread-and-butter issues now.
'The People's Action Party (PAP) is already in power. (They) should take (the) opportunity to ride through the crisis together with the people of Singapore.'
Still, some want a snap poll. Why?
An election might spur those trying to win voters' hearts to work harder at solving the economic problems, they say.
Some even suggested that a new government may be more capable of leading Singapore through the recession.
Mr Matthew Koh, 37, a cook, was one of the minority who supported the idea of having an election this year.
'It's good to find out the (sentiments) of the people now towards the economic situation.'
Upset
As for the majority who thought now is not a good time for an election, we asked: When would it be a good time?
Most - 64 per cent- said only when the economy recovers.
Said student Kenneth Leong, 21: 'The election should be held when the economy recovers because having a GE now will upset the whole government.
'At this point, the Government is the only thing that can and is supporting the economy.'
A fifth wanted a GE to be held only when it is due in February 2012.
Said Mr Abd Hamid Hadzir, 28, an environmental health officer: 'A good time will be in 2012. So far, the PAP is doing well. They have handled a couple of recessions very well.'
Fourteen per cent said that if there should be any polls, it should be held at least a year from now.
Among them is logistics coordinator Jason Khoh, 28, who said: 'We should wait for things to settle down.
'Now, we're quite caught up with the downturn.'
Additional reporting by Joanna Hor, Geraldine Yeo, Michelle Tay, Julian Lee, Bernice Huang, Pearly Tan, Darren Foong, Han Su-Ying, Audrey Tan
Q: IS IT A GOOD TIME TO HOLD GENERAL ELECTION NOW?
'Leave election to another time'
The New Paper poll of 200 S'poreans aged 21 and above
By Lediati Tan
March 12, 2009
TNP INFOGRAPHICS: JONATHAN ROBERTS
FOCUS on the economy.
Now is not the time for politics.
These are the views of an overwhelming number of Singaporeans polled by The New Paper.
With all the talk of the possibility of snap elections, the street poll of the 200, all aged 21 and above, showed that nearly three-quarters were not in favour of a General Election (GE) this year.
The reason: They want all heads focused on getting Singapore out of the downturn.
The sentiments reflect what most observers and politicians have said in the last few weeks: That a snap poll would distract the Government from focusing on the economy.
The next GE is due in February 2012.
But talk of an upcoming election arose when the Elections Department moved to update electoral registers and alter the boundaries of polling districts.
The Elections Department was quick to add that both moves were routine exercises.
But that did not stop speculation that polls could be round the corner.
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew also said last week that he saw 'no purpose' in holding polls before 2011, though he stressed it was up to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to decide when an election will be held.
In The New Paper poll, Singaporeans appeared to agree.
Undergraduate Lee Ting Jun, 24, said: 'The economy is very unstable now. A GE could possibly destabilise it further.'
The second most common reason given by those not favouring a GE now is that it would be a waste of money to hold elections during such times.
The money should be used on more urgent needs such as measures to save jobs.
Others thought the Government is currently doing a fine job - and holding polls now might jeopardise that.
Marketing executive Peggy Hong, 48, said: 'Citizens face pressing problems of job security, rising cost of living and bread-and-butter issues now.
'The People's Action Party (PAP) is already in power. (They) should take (the) opportunity to ride through the crisis together with the people of Singapore.'
Still, some want a snap poll. Why?
An election might spur those trying to win voters' hearts to work harder at solving the economic problems, they say.
Some even suggested that a new government may be more capable of leading Singapore through the recession.
Mr Matthew Koh, 37, a cook, was one of the minority who supported the idea of having an election this year.
'It's good to find out the (sentiments) of the people now towards the economic situation.'
Upset
As for the majority who thought now is not a good time for an election, we asked: When would it be a good time?
Most - 64 per cent- said only when the economy recovers.
Said student Kenneth Leong, 21: 'The election should be held when the economy recovers because having a GE now will upset the whole government.
'At this point, the Government is the only thing that can and is supporting the economy.'
A fifth wanted a GE to be held only when it is due in February 2012.
Said Mr Abd Hamid Hadzir, 28, an environmental health officer: 'A good time will be in 2012. So far, the PAP is doing well. They have handled a couple of recessions very well.'
Fourteen per cent said that if there should be any polls, it should be held at least a year from now.
Among them is logistics coordinator Jason Khoh, 28, who said: 'We should wait for things to settle down.
'Now, we're quite caught up with the downturn.'
Additional reporting by Joanna Hor, Geraldine Yeo, Michelle Tay, Julian Lee, Bernice Huang, Pearly Tan, Darren Foong, Han Su-Ying, Audrey Tan
